Transformation & Infatuation

Summary:
When Edward meets a mysterious young girl and is faced with the decision of saving her or letting her die, he unknowingly turns her. As a newly turned vampire, Bella is confused and alone, and is searching for the mysterious angel that saved her.

Notes:
This story was originally published on fanfiction.net, and is by the same author.

1. Crash

I really, really hate airplanes. Although I’d love to travel outside of the country again, I’m not sure whether I can handle any more flights.

“Hey, Bella, are you alright? You look a little green,” said Carrie worriedly. We had only known each other for a few months, but she was the closest thing to a best friend that I had.

“Yeah, uh, I’m fine. I’m just finding it a little hard to enjoy the view.” As I said this I glanced out the window at the clouds, only to have my stomach lurch.

“Good afternoon. This is your pilot speaking. We are currently coasting along at 35,000 feet above the Mediterranean Sea, near the beautiful country of Italy, our destination. In a half hour or so, we’ll begin our descent to the airport in Florence. Please buckle in, and remain seated until the plane comes to a complete stop.” Oh, good. I think I can make it another fifteen or so minutes without upchucking.

I thought that watching our descent would continue to make me nauseous, so I pulled down the window shade. Then I felt a tap on my left shoulder, so I turned around to face the person who was trying to get my attention.

Shane, one of my classmates, starting talking to me, but I didn’t hear a thing he said. A strangely beautiful, pale boy with tousled bronze hair caught my attention. I saw him reach into his pocket and pull out a slim, silver cell phone. He glanced at the caller, and then put it back into his pocket, looking terribly sad. As someone walked down the aisle past me, then toward him, he suddenly stiffened. His gaze met mine, and he looked—hungry?—for some reason. He gracefully rose to his feet, and started walking toward me. But he didn’t take more than three steps before the plane began to shake violently.

It didn’t feel like bad turbulence, but like the plane was being pulled apart. I could smell smoke, and hear people screaming from the back of the plane. I looked down, and could see the water getting closer and closer. The plane severely tilted downward, the water began to rush up much quicker. I could hear steel grinding, and bolts popping.

A voice came on overhead, statically speaking: “Please remain calm. Quickly put on your oxygen masks. Locate, remove, and put on your life vests. Hold on to anything you can, and prepare for impact,” an automated voice said. Apparently we didn’t have time to evacuate, because we were being prepared for the worst.

The cabin was in chaos. Children were screaming and crying. Parents were holding their children protectively, and attempting to put on their oxygen masks and life vests. I fumbled beneath my seat, and found my life vest. I tried to fasten it securely, but the plane was tilting at a dangerous angle. I grabbed at the oxygen mask hanging above me, and finally managed to snag it. I wrapped the elastic bands around my head, and looked frantically around to see if I could find Carrie.

I saw her lying face down in the aisle. I leaned over, and tried to flip her over. While trying to flip her onto her back, I realized that she wasn’t breathing and that she had a huge gash in her head. I screamed, only to be thrown to the floor on top of her as the plane made a deep nose dive. I heard someone scream from the front of the plane, “We’re gonna hit!” in panic. Groggily, I grabbed onto an armrest and prepared for impact.

We hit the water with a thunderous roar. I could feel the landing gear crumple beneath us. As the underside of the plane struck, I felt the horrific impact. It felt like being hit by a car, only a hundred times over. Water started pouring in through thousands of cracks in the body. But then I felt a heavy weight were I did not expect it: on my back.

I was roughly picked up and held securely in cold, hard arms. We were suddenly airborne, jumping over the debris inside the cabin and over the seats. Somehow, we broke though the side of the plane and were submerged in the water.